Schellhaas rides MVP Peterson to Smokestack crown

Camden — After an exciting campaign that included thousands of passing and rushing yards, clutch kicks, stellar defenses and hundreds of touchdowns scored across the National Football League from September to the end of the regular season, one man and his team stand alone atop the Smokestack Bar & Grille's fantasy football league.

Alex Schellhaas and his team, Grand Daddy Purps, are this year's trophy winner. Schellhaas is a passionate Minnesota Vikings' fan, especially Adrian Peterson, as the league's most valuable player was the fantasy league champ's running back.

The league recently wrapped up its third season, with all 12 team owners being Midcoast residents, said commissioner Seth Cohn.

The draft takes place at the Smokestack Bar & Grille a day or two before the first game of the season. The cost is $100 per team and the draft takes 4 to 5 hours to complete. The top three seeds win money: first place is $700, second $200 and third $100.

There is a championship game — called the Smokestack Bowl, a third-place game and the two teams with the worst record play in the Toilet Bowl, which was lost by last year's champion, Blemaster, who went from first to worst in one season.

Teams are allowed to pick up free agents, make trades, cut bad players and talk smack on the league's message board, Seth Cohn said. Every yard is accounted for, making every game — and every play — worthwhile for someone in the league.

Teams play one game a week, as it is an owner's 10 players versus another owner's 10 players. Each team must start a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, a tight end, a flex player (which can be a running back, wide receiver or tight end), a defense and a kicker.

"Next season we are looking to add another 12 teams and have two leagues," Seth Cohn said. "Anyone is welcome."

Courier Publications sports staff can be reached by phone at 207-594-4401 or by email at sports@courierpublicationsllc.com.